Michael Barba is the former Policy Director of K-12 Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. His work is focused upon education because it provides our children with economic, civic, and moral benefits: a good education offers students a path to prosperous work, teaches students why and how they must care for their neighbor, and gives students practice in the virtues that allow them to attain lifelong freedom and happiness.
Previously, Michael served as a specialist on the System of Great Schools (SGS) team at the Texas Education Agency where he helped visionary school district leaders understand and deliver the schools that their families want, need, and deserve. Nineteen districts enrolling 525,000 students currently participate in the SGS Network. Michael has also served as the Associate Policy Director for the Catholic bishops of Texas, whom he represented before the state legislature and administrative agencies. Born and raised in El Paso, he completed his undergraduate and graduate education in political philosophy at the University of Dallas.